You can include your phone specific model if you want.
I just got a Samsung Galaxy S23, switching from an iPhone 11, because I kinda fear that Apple might turn evil and start banning apps from the app store. I mean I knew about how restrictive iOS was but I kinda just justified it by the increased security that I perceived it to be. But recent events made me realize a corporation can turn from mildly annoying to full-on evil very quickly. With Android, I have the option of avoiding the Google Play Store if they start to do weird things with it. So that’s my story, what about you?
I hate all mobile operating systems because none of them is able to provide me the level of control I have on my Linux desktops and laptops. But there’s nothing I can do about that, so, at least, I bought the best phone on the market - S23 Ultra. It’s a lovely device, I just dislike Google. Thinking of de-googling it somehow. F-Droid and Galaxy Store can work as Play Store replacement but I still need Google Pay and so on :/
If only Ubuntu Phone wasn’t canceled.
LineageOS for microG might be what you’re looking for. It is a compromise to give you the minimum amount of google while keeping the functionality you want. It features “fake” play services, which allow you to use banking apps and such while not actually running google. Itcomes with privileged F-Droid as your standard source for apps. I’m using it since 2019.
Thanks, I’ll check this. I’m worried about s-pen functionality and the support provided (the official ROM has 4-5 years of updates) but I’ll look into it.
I’ve been on the same boat. Luckily someone on XDA had made the stock rom googleless and it’s been working great. Im not using that gone anymore though (it was either my GSIII or my GS7).
If you are willing to buy a pixel from a store that resells them you’d evade paying google. You can get GrapheneOS which IS a very secure OS … They have a feature called Sandboxes Google Play which is compatible with overwhelming majority of apps compared to MicroG. I think you’d really like what grapheneOS has to offer
Please know that Sandboxed Google Play does not use any additional privileges and makes googles apps run in sandbox like any random app you install would.
You can do without Google Pay.
But how do I pay then? I don’t even take my wallet with me and I don’t have a physical VISA anymore. Maybe Samsung Pay could work but it’s not supported in my country.
But how do I pay then? I don’t even take my wallet with me and I don’t have a physical VISA anymore. Maybe Samsung Pay could work but it’s not supported in my country.
It’s pretty easy to get your bank to send you a new physical card. If you don’t have a wallet anymore, then just carry the card, or get an ultra thin RFID blocking wallet.